ODI Records: Most centuries in an innings

Centuries have become a great parameter for judging a batter’s performance. In ODI matches, centuries from two or more players often mean that you will end up winning the game. Often even if a single player scores a century in an ODI game, it means that they will win the match for their side. Although there have been many instances where batters have scored not just hundreds but daddy hundreds and still end up on the losing side. One of the most famous examples is Australia losing an ODI match to South Africa after scoring 434 runs with skipper Ricky Ponting scoring 164 runs. In this article, we take a look at which teams have scored the most centuries in an innings.

Most centuries in an innings

There have been three instances where a team has scored three centuries in an innings. The record for the most number of centuries in an ODI innings is held by South Africa and England. South Africa has achieved the feat twice while the 2019 ODI World Cup champions have done it once. Here are the three matches where the records were made.

South Africa vs West Indies, 2015

South Africa in 2015 became the first team to score three centuries in an ODI innings. They achieved this record against the West Indies. The three centurions from the Proteas were Hashim Amla (153*), Rilee Rossuow (128) and skipper, AB de Villiers (149). This was the first instance where the top three batters hit centuries in an ODI innings. AB de Villiers also made the fastest ODI century in just 31 balls. 

Amla made 153 runs in 142 balls hitting 14 fours while his opening partner, Rossuow scored 128 runs in 115 balls hitting 11 fours and two sixes. Even after two great centuries by the South African openers, Mr. 360 stole the show by playing one of the best ODI knocks in history. The skipper scored 149 runs in just 44 balls at a strike rate of 338.63 hitting 9 fours and 16 sixes.

West Indies only managed to score 291 runs in the second innings as they lost the match by 148 runs.

South Africa vs India, 2015 

After becoming the first team to have three centurions in a single ODI innings, South Africa later in the same year once again achieved the feat at Wankhede Stadium against India. The three centurions from the Proteas were Quinton de Kock (109), Faf du Plessis (133) and AB de Villiers (119). de Kock scored 109 runs in 87 balls hitting 17 fours and 1 six while du Plessis batting at number three scored 133 runs in 115 balls hitting 9 fours and 6 sixes. Skipper, de Villiers once again impressed everyone with his hard-hitting century. He made 119 runs in just 61 balls hitting just 3 fours but 11 sixes.

India in response was bowled out for just 224 runs in the second innings. The hosts lost the match by a whopping margin of 214 runs.

England vs Netherlands, 2022

The match between England and the Netherlands in June 2022 is etched in the history of cricket for more than one reason. England scored 498 runs against the Netherlands which is the highest score in ODI cricket. This was possible because of their three centurions, Phil Salt (122), Dawid Malan (125) and Jos Buttler (162). Liam Livingstone batting at number five was not very far away from scoring a century too. The hard-hitting all-rounder remained not out after scoring 66 runs in just 22 balls.

Salt scored 122 runs in 93 balls hitting 14 fours and 3 sixes. Malan scored 125 runs in 109 balls hitting 9 sixes and 3 fours. Wicketkeeper, Buttler put on a display of aggressive batting as he scored 162 runs in just 70 balls. He hit 7 fours and 14 sixes in his innings. Livingstone scored 66 runs in 22 balls. An argument can be made that if Livingstone had faced some more deliveries then he could have become England’s fourth centurion.

The Netherlands were bowled out for 266 runs and lost the match by 232 runs.

It will be interesting to see if any teams in the ODI World Cup can replicate the performances put up by the above teams.